Automatic device for draining liquids from containers



D. E. HOLMES 1,912,843 AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR DRAINING LIQUIDS FROMCONTAINERS June 6, 1933.

Filed June 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR .Z7wayne ,]-[0Zmes,

ATTORNEY,

June 6, 1933. D. E. HOLMES 1,912,843

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR DRAINING LIQUIDS FROM CONTAINERS Filed Tune '7.1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x? MM INVENTOR jwayne I. Holmes,

ATTORNEY Patented June 6, 1933 i DWAYNE E. HOLMES, OF GREEN, KANSAEAUTOMATIC nEvIcEron DRAINING LIQUIDS rnoM CONTAINERS A ncaumrfii a June7, 1932. Serial No. 615,734.

My invention relates broadly to anauto matic device for drainingliquidsfronrautomobile radiators, water pipes, storage tanks 1 a and othercontainers whenthe temperature approaches the respective freezing pointsof such liquids, so that there will be no danger of their freezing inthe containers andbursting the same.

t The invention contemplates; the employ ment of a drainage valvenormally secured in closed position against the action of a spring bymeans of a latch held in active positionby magnetic means arranged iiather 1, mostatically controlled electric c rcuit. The 15 thermostat maybe manually set to close the circuit at any predetermined temperature.Closing of the circuit energizesthe inagnetlc means, causing the same toreleasethe latch which in turn is instantly moved to inactive 20position by a spring and permits the valve to open so that the liquidmay run from the container. As the latch is moved to inactive positionit opens the thermostatic circuit and thereby avoids the loss ofcurrent.

The inventionalso contemplates the use of a manually controlled electricsignal circuit whereby the operator may determine whether the valve hasbeen automatically opened without making an actual inspection, as "thevalve is usually locatedat a point where it is inconvenient to make suchinspection.

Other features will hereinafter appear and in order that the inventionmay be fully understood reference will now be had to the ac- 35companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the device connected tothe lower portion of a container. t

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the thermostat for controlling the circuit. p L

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the thermostaton line H of Fig. 3.t

y 5 is a diagram of the electr'ic circuits.

45 Referring in detail to the difierent parts, 2

designates a container in the outlet orifice of which a valve 4: isthreaded. Thevalve a is provided at its lower endwith a hinged gate 1 orclosure 6 adapted to openby the force of gravity assisted bya'sp'ring 8.The gate 6 is retained in open position by a thermostat 16 provided witha spring member 10 arranged in the form of a wedge for a purpose whichwill hereiiiafter appear.

12 designates a latch having a beveled end 14 adapted to press againstthe spring member 10 and thus firmly hold the gate 6 in closed position.The latch 12 is reciprocably mounted in guide members 16 and 18depending from a bracket 20 projecting from the valve 4.-

22 designates an expansible spring for moving the latch 12 baclrwardlyto inactive position. The spring 22 is interposed between the guidemember 16 and a collar 24, which latter is firmly secured to the latch12 by suitable means such as a set screw 26. t

28 designates a lever mounted upon a fulcrum 30 carried by thebifurcated lower end 32 of the guide member 16. The level" 28 isprovided at its forward end with an adjustable set screw 34; forengagement with a shoulder 36 at the forward portion of the latch 12 forthe purpose of securing the latter in active position against the actionof the spring member22, as shown by Fig. 1. The

rear end of the lever 28 is provided with an armature 38 arranged in thefield of a pair of electroinagnets 10 secured to the under side of thebracket 20 but insulated therefrom.

The electi'oinagnets 40 are arranged in an. electric circuit 42energized by a suitable source 14 which may be the battery of anautomobile when the device is applied to the radia'tor thereof. Thecircuit42 is normally provided with a casing 18 having a rotatable shaftmounted therein and equipped with a fixedly mounted needle 52 adapted tosweep over a gage 5 1 calibrated to indicate various temperatures,

The shaft 50 is controlled by a thermal unit 5464, which under alowering temperature" rotates said shaft 50 in a direction to swingtheheedle 52- towards a coiita-ctfio adjust ably secured in place by aset screw -58|, so that said contact may be set adjacent to any degreeindicated on the gage 54. One end. of the thermal unit 540, is securedto the casing 48 and the other end to an insulating collar 62 secured tothe shaft 50 by a set screw ion 60. The circuit 42 is connected at oneend to the set screw 58 and at its other end to the set screw 60.

With the parts arranged in .the position shown by Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive, it is evident that when the temperature reaches the degree atwhich the thermostat 46 is set to act that the needle 52 will be carriedinto engagement with the contact 56 and thereby close the circuit 42.Closing of the circuit 42 energizes the electromagnets 40 which attractthe armature 38 and thus release the latch 12. Immediately on beingreleased the latch 12 is retracted by the spring 22 and permits thevalve 4 to open so that the liquid may run from the container 2.

As the latch 12 moves backwardly to inactive position it opens thecircuit 42 through the intermediary of a switch 64 carried by saidlatch. The switch 64 includes a contact 66 in the circuit 42 and acontact 68 forming one terminal of an electric signal circuit 70connected at its opposite terminal to the circuit 42. After opening thecircuit 42 the switch 64 is carried into engagement with the contact 68and thus closes the signal circuit 70. The signal circuit 70 includes apushbutton 72 and a suitable signal such as the,

horn 74 of the motor vehicle. If the horn 74 sounds when the push-button72 is closed it indicates that the valve 4 has opened and thus relievesthe operator of the necessity of inspecting said valve.

Preparatory to refilling the container 2 with liquid the gate 6 isclosed and held in that position by the latch 12 which is advancedagainst the action of the spring member 22 until engaged by the setscrew 84. Forward adjustment of the latch 12 may be accomplished from infront of the container 2 by reaching backwardly with a hook and en 'a'in the same in an e e '4" 6 in the forward 6 I: b l

end of said latch.

If the operation of refilling the radiator 2 is performed when theweather is still cold enough to maintain the needle 52 in engagementwith the contact 56 the latter may be moved to open the circuit 42 andthereby prevent the electromagnets 40 from effecting the opening of thevalve 4 by releasing the latch 12. After the engine has run long enoughto warm up the thermostat 46, the contact 56 may again be adjusted closeto the freezing point on the gage 54.

Should an antifreezing agent be intermixed with the water in thecontainer 2, the contact 56 may be set as far below the freezing point,as recommended by the manufac turer in order to prevent useless drainingof said container.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided adevice which is well adapted for the purpose intended, and while I haveshown and described one embodiment of the invention I reserve all rightsto such changes and modifications thereof as properly fall within thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. An automatic device for draining liquid from a container comprisingan outlet valve adapted to be connected to said container,

a bracket projecting from said valve, latch a bracket projecting fromsaid valve, guide means on said bracket, latch moans operably mounted insaid guide means and normally holding said valve in closed position,magnetically controlled means normally holding said latch means inactive position, a thermostatically controlled electric circuit adaptedto be closed at a predetermined temperature and energize saidmagnetically con trolled means and thereby causethe latter to releasethe latch means, springs means for moving said released latch means toinactive position to permit the valve to open, and means for openingsaid valve.

3. An automatic device for draining liquid from a container comprisingan outlet valve adapted tobe connected to said container, said valvevcomprising a closure hinged to the valve casing and tending to open topermit the liquid to drain from said container, a wedge member on saidclosure, latch means normally pressing-against said wedge member to holdthe closure in closed position, magnetically controlled means normallyholding said latch means in active position, a thermostaticallycontrolled electric circuit adapted to be closed at a predeterminedtemperature and energize said magnetically controlled means and therebycause the latter to release the latch means, and means for movlng saidreleased latch means to inactive pos1t1on to pernnt the closure to open.

4. An automatic device for draining liquid from acontainer comprising anoutlet valve adapted to be connected to said container, said valvecomprising a closure hinged-Ito the valve casing and tending to open topermit the liquid to drain from'said container, a resilient wedge memberon said closure,

latch means having a beveled portion normally pressing against saidwedge member ed to be closed at a predetermined temperature and energizesaid magnetically controlled meansand thereby cause the latter torelease the latch means, and means for moving said released latch meansto inactive position to permit the closure to open.

5. An automatic device for draining liquid from a container comprisingliquid releasing means normally closing the outlet to said container,latch means normally holding said liquid releasing means in closedposition and tending to move to inactive position, a lever provided withan adjustable element normally holding said latch means in activeposition, magnetic means for actuating said lever and causing saidelement to release the latch means so that the latter may move toinactive position and allow the liquid releasing means to open, and athermostatically controlled electric circuit adapted to be closed at apredetermined temperature and energize said magnetic means.

6. An automatic device for draining liquid from a container comprisingan outlet valve adapted to be connected to said container, latch meansnormally holding said valve in closed position, magnetically controlledmeans normally holding said latch means in active position, athermostatically controlled electric circuit adapted to be closed at apredetermined temperature and energize said magnetically controlledmeans and thereby cause the latter to release the latch means, 7

means for moving said released latch means to inactive position topermit the valve to open, and switch means actuated to open the circuitby said. latch means as the latter is moved to inactive position. a

7. An automatic device for draining liquid from a container comprisingan outlet valve adapted to be connected to said container, latch meansnormally holding said valve in closed position, magnetically controlledmeans normally holding said latch means in active position, athermostatically controlled electric circuit adapted to be closed at apredetermined temperature and energize said magnetically controlledmeans and thereby cause the latter to release the latch means,

means for moving said released latch means to inactive position topermit the valve to open, and an electric signal circuit whereby it maybe determined if the outlet valve is open when said latch means isin'its inactive position. V

8. An automatic device for draining liquid from a container comprisinganoutlet valve adapted to be connected to said container, a latch normallyholding said valve in closed position and having a tendency to move toinactive position, magnetically controlled means normally holding saidlatch in active position, a thermostatically controlled electric circuitadapted to be closed at a predetermined temperature and energize saidmagnetically controlled means, thereby caus-

